Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Prayers

How many prayers are listed in the Bible? I am not sure, but I found a source that states around 85 not including the Psalms. Prayer is so important that Jesus even told us how to pray in Luke 11:1-4 and Matthew 6:9-13(King James Version):'Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, They kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.'I have not always been the best at prayer. Oh sure, I have always prayed and prayed everyday, off and on throughout the day, at night before bedtime, when in need, when in pain, when I had my surgery, when I am thankful, etc..But, I haven't always been really faithful about getting up in the morning and putting God and prayer first and for the longest time when I prayed at night as ashamed as I am to admit it, I always fell asleep.I have been a strong prayer partner and prayed for others, for our leaders, my pastors, my family and I have seen prayers answered in the most amazing ways. While as I have said in the past, I am a very strong person and am not shy about speaking up or speaking to others, I have never liked to pray in front of others. However, God wants me to be an intercessory and I have seen that so clearly lately. The woman I met and prayed for last week at her place of business and invited her to our church never showed up on Sunday. However, today, as I was walking into a local grocery store that I rarely shop at, the same woman with a small child was coming out the door. She recognized me and I her and we talked for a few moments but I didn't mention church, I could see she almost dreaded seeing me.Than I spoke with a member of my churches prayer team and she and a few others prayed specifically for that business and its employees and the owners and she had a similar happening at the same place with a younger employee. Must be something in the water, haha! While I gave the woman a business card for our church, the prayer team member left the young girl with a book our church wrote.Prayer, it is powerful and when others begin to intercede, powerful things happen and God begins to work miracles and I believe God wants to work in me and use me to intercede in prayer on the behalf of others.We can all pray for those we know need prayer. We also need to make a commitment to pray for others. I use Mala beads when I pray and as I touch each bead, I pray for a different person or happening. You can also use a Rosary, a large linked chain or anything else that will help you to pray and name all the people on your prayer list.Try praying for these people:

Your pastor and his family

Your neighbor (yes, even if you don't like them)

Your co-workers

The overwhelmed mother you saw in tears in the store

The single father

The elderly neighbor

Your city council

The person sitting in the vehicle of a car wreck you passed on your way to work

Police officers

Fire fighters

Teachers

Doctors

Prayers are beautiful to the Lords ears and He isn't looking for fancy words or hour long prayers, He is looking at the genuineness of your heart! Try praying and let me know how it is working out for you. If you would like to join me in prayer, let me know!